Two Arrested, Runaway Teen Found At South Seattle Chop Shop

Seattle police dismantled a south Seattle chop shop Thursday morning after some observant detectives came across a stripped-down sedan parked in an alleyway.

South Precinct burglary detectives were out in the field at about 7:30 AM Thursday when they found the Honda, parked near 33rd Avenue S. and S. Brandon Street.

Detectives checked the car’s vehicle identification number and (surprise!) discovered the stripped-down car had been reported stolen. Detectives then noticed another stripped car parked in the yard of a nearby home.

Detectives called in patrol officers, auto theft detectives, and the Major Crimes Taskforce and got warrant to search the property, where they found four more stolen cars.

Police also found lots of auto parts, several men with warrants, and a runaway 16-year-old girl inside the home.

Of the six cars found around the home—five Hondas and a Kia, all manufactured between 1992 and 2008—three had been stolen in the last four days. In fact, one of the thefts was so recent that the owner of one of the cars actually called 911 to make a report as detectives were searching the home.

Officers arrested two men inside the home for warrants and booked them into the King County Jail. Detectives are now investigating the two men for possible stolen property and auto theft charges.